According to an article in Consumer Reports, Hy Cite Enterprises has recalled 1.7 million pots and pans due to a burn and fire hazard. The products affected are from the Royal Prestige 9-ply thermal-wall line.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has received more than 1,100 complaints of cookware collapsing or deforming when exposed to heat sources, causing the contents to spatter. In one case, a victim was spattered with hot oil.

Hy Cite is a high-end cookware retailer, selling products door-to-door by independent distributors. The individual pots and pans retail for up to $800 and the sets for up to $3,500. The products affected have an imprint on the bottom reading “Thermal Wall” and “9-Ply” and include the following items:

1.5-quart saucepans

2-quart saucepans

3, 4, 6, and 8-quart Dutch ovens

8-inch and 10.5-inch skillets

10-inch and 14-inch paella pans

Consumers are being advised to stop using the cookware immediately and contact Hy Cite for return instructions. Hy Cite will replace any damage cookware and repair any undamaged items. Hy Cite can be contacted at 1-800-609-9577. Customers can also contact the company by visiting the website at www.royalprestige.com or www.hycite.com and clicking on “Recall Information.”

Defective Products Injure Thousands Each Year

Defective products are responsible for many injuries each year of innocent victims who purchase these items in good faith. Some experts estimate that over 220,000 injuries to children alone are reported to the CPSC each year. Furthermore, each year millions of products are recalled prior to causing harm to consumers, but these products still represent potential danger. As long as manufacturers continue to release defective products, everyone is in danger of potential injuries.

The Two Theories Behind Product Liability

Product liability cases are usually based on one of two legal premises: defective manufacturing or defective design.

Defective manufacturing cases allege that the product was made incorrectly so that utilizing it in the manner in which it was intended poses a danger to potential users. For example, in this recall the fault could have been a manufacturing error that causes the pots to collapse when they are exposed to heat. Since a pot is made to be used on heat, this is obviously a defect and could be due to poor manufacturing.

On the other hand, the problem could also be a defective design. Products that are defective in design cannot be manufactured safely. The design itself is what poses the danger to consumers. Examples of this include baby seats that pose a smothering risk or cars that contain design flaws that lead to sudden acceleration issues.

What Can Victims of Product Liability Do?

While there is a legal difference between defective manufacturing and defective design, there is little difference to the victim of an injury caused by a defective product. These victims are entitled to compensation for their injuries including payment of medical bills, payment of lost wages and other expenses, and sums for pain and suffering.